Sony develops CMOS image sensor for cars, it can see clearly in the dark

Sony Corporation has announced that it has developed a new image sensor which will be targeted at the automotive industry. The CMOS based sensor is referenced part number IMX224MQV. It is the first image sensor from Sony that has been ratified to support auto-industry reliability standard AEC-Q100.

Sony IMX224MQV image sensor

The new sensor is expected to ship as engineering samples next month and be in mass production early next year. The sensor is expected to be made use of by the new wave of autonomous vehicles. These need good image sensors for them to safely navigate busy roads and also the reliability assured by AEC-Q100.

Sony’s IMX224MQV offers twice the light sensitivity of the company’s previous best device. The firm says it can “take high-quality color images even in an environment with an illuminance of 0.005lx, which is darker than starlight and equivalent to a dark night,”reports The Japan Times.

The previous best Sony sensor showed much less detail in the dark

The technology behind the impressive new sensor is a combination of a new photo diode, a special high efficiency circuit and programmable gain amplifier. The sensor can also make use of near-infrared light which is invisible to the naked eye. Of course this kind of sensor is important as people need transport at poorly lit, poor visibility times and bad weather conditions. It also sounds like a great sensor for a dash-cam but with just 1.27-Mpixel on offer in this example that is not the target market.

Mark has worked for a number of years as a newshound on other technology news websites. He decided to write for Tech Assimilate thanks to this web site's open embracing vision of the fascinating world of personal technology. Mark has also worked in the printing and advertising industries for tens of years previously.